Hand-grenade shell and method of making the same.



T. E. MURRAY, JR- & J. B. MURRAY. HAND GRENADE SHELL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1918.

Patented July 2 1918.

" bur surrounding said joint.

1 app 1 THQMAS E. MURRAY, JR, AND JOSEPH B. MURRAY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

HAND-GBENADE SHELL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS E. MURRAY, Jr., and Josnrrr B. MURRAY, citizens of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvelnent in Hand-Grenade Shells and Methods of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is a hand grenade shell of thin or sheet metal and the method of making the same.

A hand grenade is an explosive projectile manually thrown over short distances. Such grenades at the present time are bein made by the million, and, therefore, it is 0 much economical importance to reduce their cost of manufactur i We construct the grenade of two cup shaped portions, struck up, pressed or otherwise produced from sheet metal, electrically welded together at their circumferential edges. The pressure exerted at the Welded joint causes an extrusion of the metal or Such burs when formed at welded joints are usually removed by cutting, grinding or a like operation, the expense of which when performed upon grenade shellsmade, as before stated, in such large numbers, amounts to very considerable figures. We eliminate this operation altogether, and leave the bur in .lace. But a rough projection, such as a ur, is liable to out the hand of, and s0 disturb the aim of the person throwing the grenade. To give, therefore, to the shell the proper smooth or finished surface and to prevent the hand of the operator coming in contact with the bur, we produce on each cup-portion and near the circumferential edge thereof a raised integral head, which heads when the cups are welded together lie on each side of the bur, and we regulate the welding so that the bur shall not protrude beyond said beads, and is thus completely guarded by said beads.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of our hand grenade shell. Fi 2 is a longitudinal section thereof with t e cup-shaped parts sep- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 32213.

parts.

The grenade shell is formed of two cups A, B 0 thin metal, the said cups preferably having flattened ends C, D, and one of said cups, as A, having an opening in its end C in which is secured the internally threaded tube E for the reception of the usual exploding fuse. On each cup and near the circumferential edge thereof is formed an integral raised circumferential bead F. The cups A, B are placed in suitable recesses in electrodes G, H with their edges in contact, and, the welding current being established, are pressed together. By reason of said Welding and pressure, any metal extruded at the joint forms a bur or ridge I. The welding operation is to be so regulated as that said bur I shall not protrude beyond the beads F, F between which it lies. The

said beads, therefore, form a guard for the bur, and prevent the hand of the operator throwing the grenade from contacting with said bun-or, in other words, cause the grenade to have a substantially smooth surface enabling it to be tightly grasped and projected without interference by the usually rough metal of the bur. One end, as D, of the shell is flattened so that the shell maybe stood upon it. The fuse tube E'is provided with a polygonal flange J, for convenience in holding the shell by means of. a suitable spanner or Wrench applied to said flange during the screwing of the fuse into said tube.

We claim:

1. A hand grenade shell consistin of two cup-shaped metal portions electrical y welded together at their circumferential edges, and, on each portion and near the circumferential e e thereof, an integral raised circumferential bead; whereby the bur of metal extruded Sat-the welded joint is guarded by said beads, substantially as set forth.

2. The method of making a hand grenade shell of thin metal, which consists 1n electrically welding together at their circuml efiges two cup-shaped portions,

saving an integral circumfernear its -ircumferential M ggressing said porfiions together to saw as 90m 05 metal on the exterior of e fieisin she amount 0% pmirusion of which has?! he less than the protrusion of said In testimony whereof we have afilxed our slgna'tures 1n presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS MURRAY, JR. JOSEPH B. MURRAY.

Witnesses:

GERTRUDE T. PORTER,

MAY T. MGGARRY. 

